Exercise 2: Mapping Disease Ecology with Data: Zipped data file from Intro to QG

Exercise 2: Mapping Disease Ecology with
Data: Zipped data file from Intro to QGIS tutorialDownload Zipped data file from Intro to QGIS tutorial
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Learning Objectives:
Use data to produce maps in QGIS
Use proxy data to make a claim about the disease ecology of malaria
Consider the choices cartographers make when creating a map
Practice putting map elements together to make a cohesive argument through a map
Description:
Students are expected to complete three exercises over the course of the quarter. This is the second of those. In this exercise, students are introduced to data manipulation and mapping in QGIS. QGIS is an open-source GIS mapping and spatial analysis platform with growing usage around the world.
This exercise uses proxy data about the climactic and environmental conditions associated with malaria and other parasitic diseases to predict disease risk in Kenya. Effectively, we are building a disease ecology model and using it to map expected risk of infections. Because we are dealing with environmental proxies, we will be working primarily with raster data. This exercise follows the QGIS tutorial introduced in section on October 26th which was designed to illustrate how we can construct ecological models to predict disease and give you some introductory skills in QGIS such that you can use it to both produce maps and conduct spatial analysis.
This exercise is worth 10% of your course grade and will be graded out of 10 points.
Instructions:
Using the QGIS tutorial introduced in section on Thursday, October 26th and available at https://canvas.uw.edu/courses/1666622/pages/intro-to-qgis-tutorial, answer the questions that follow. After you have made your two maps (one each in response to the two questions below), you are asked to reflect on the experience following the prompt.
Question 1: In the Intro to QGIS tutorial, we walked through modeling year-round malaria risk in Kenya. In that model, we simply looked at whether malaria was present or absent, but of course even in areas where malaria is found, it isn’t necessarily found in the same amount. You are now being tasked with making a map of malaria risk in Kenya in May, showing areas of high, medium, low, and no risk. You’ll need to use all of the exclusionary factors identified in the introductory tutorial (elevation, humidity, and temperature) to identify areas of no risk. Remember that the mosquitoes that carry malaria:
Live in areas that are below 1500m in elevation
Are active when temperatures are between 21 and 32°C (NOTE: when assessing year-round risk, we only excluded areas that were too hot or too cold all year round. Since we are now looking at a specific month and assessing how active mosquitoes are in that month, we can exclude areas that are too hot or too cold during the month of May using the maximum and minimum May temperatures.)
Can reproduce if humidity is above 60%
Because mosquitoes breed faster and thus bite more at higher temperatures (as long as it isn’t too hot!), you’ll then use the following temperature ranges to assess malaria risk:
High risk: average monthly temp >28
Medium risk: average monthly temp 25-27.9
Low risk: average monthly temp <24.9 Note: this intentionally requires you to think about how you can use Raster Calculator to create three different risk bands. If you get stuck, feel free to ask for help, but please try to think it through for at least a couple minutes on your own first. You’ll also need to think about how to symbolize your final map as you have a couple of different options depending on how you created your risk bands. Ultimately, it is up to you how you make your map, but you will be assessed on whether the bands are correct and on how clearly your map conveys the information. As you work, make note of the choices you are making to include in your reflection (see below). Question 2: Another disease that is common in Kenya are intestinal parasites. One type of these parasites, nematodes, move through the soil during parts of their lifecycle so require particular climactic conditions to become endemic in a region. First, they are temperature sensitive and require temperatures between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius to survive (Remember that like mosquitoes, since they have a relatively short lifecycle, there are places where they will be endemic during parts of the year, even if it is too hot or cold during other parts of the year). Second, they require 6% or more soil moisture which is found in places with at least 65% humidity. Given these two constraints, construct a binary (risk / no risk) map of where in Kenya nematode infection is likely to be endemic. Once again, it is up to you how you make your map, but you will be assessed on whether the information it communicates is correct and on how clearly your map conveys the information. As you work, make note of the choices you are making to include in your reflection (see below). Question 3: Finally, please write a reflection (250 – 400 words) that considers: What choices did you make as a cartographer? Why / how did you make them? How did the technology you were using (QGIS, raster data) constrain or support those choices? What impact did the choices you made and the technology and data you used have on the story your maps tell? Note: please do not simply copy and paste your reflection from Exercise 1 here and change R to QGIS. We will be looking for your reflection to be specific to this technology and these maps. If you wish, you are welcome to compare the choices you made here to those you made in Exercise 1. Data: You can find all of the data you will need for this exercise in the zipped file on Canvas that we used for the Intro to QGIS tutorial. That zipped file can also be downloaded here Download downloaded here. Rubric Exercise 2 Rubric Exercise 2 Rubric CriteriaRatingsPts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuestion 1How well does your map communicate the information and answer the question. 4 ptsExcellent Map does a great job of answering the question. Information is presented clearly and effectively. Map is aesthetically pleasing, technically correct, and does not include superfluous map elements. 3 ptsGood Map answers the question, but could be a little clearer. It may contain superfluous map elements or distracting map features, but it does answer the question and is technically correct. 2 ptsAcceptable Map contains information relevant to the question, but doesn't fully answer it. Map may lack clarity or information presented may not be correct. 1 ptsAttempted If you attempt to make a map, you will earn at least one point, even if you do not successfully answer the question with a map. 0 ptsNo Map/Answer Included 4 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuestion 2How well does your map communicate the information and answer the question. 4 ptsExcellent Map does a great job of answering the question. Information is presented clearly and effectively. Map is aesthetically pleasing, technically correct, and does not include superfluous map elements. 3 ptsGood Map answers the question, but could be a little clearer. It may contain superfluous map elements or distracting map features, but it does answer the question and is technically correct. 2 ptsAcceptable Map contains information relevant to the question, but doesn't fully answer it. Map may lack clarity or information presented may not be correct. 1 ptsAttempted If you attempt to make a map, you will earn at least one point, even if you do not successfully answer the question with a map. 0 ptsNo Map/Answer Included 4 pts This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeQuestion 3Does your reflection touch on all of the points of Question 3 and present a coherent reflection on the exercise process and the limitations of the technology. 2 ptsExcellent Reflection shows significant thought and addresses all aspects of the question. Reflection is clear and brings in terms and/or concepts from class. 1 ptsAcceptable Reflection addresses the prompts in the question but may not be complete or could be strengthened with more attention. 0 ptsNo Reflection Included 2 pts Total Points: 10